Construction unit



Jan. 8, STOLP CONSTRUCTION UNIT Filed March 14 1951 INVIENTOR OSCHR STOLP 1 BY His ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 8, 1935 3 Claims.

This invention relates to construction units and in particular to one adapted for wall construction in which a plurality of panels are used and which will facilitate the replacement of parts without interfering with the general construction of the partition or wall.

A particular object of my invention is to provide a construction unit which will hold in position, a panel whether it be glass, tile work, veneer or any other substance of a utilitarian nature, the construction unit being adaptable for use in a number of different ways, the outstanding features of the unit being adaptable for general construction as well as for the building up of walls, partitions, counters, or railings, where panels are used intermediate the construction units to complete the formation.

A still further object of my invention is to pro: vide a self locking unit that will forcibly hold a panel or part in place but which can be separated for replacement of the panel or part without the necessity of altering the construction of the parts or removing unnecessary parts that entail labor and add to the expense of the replacement.

Changes and variations may be made in the construction shown and described without de- Figure 3 is a view in sectional elevation of a" construction unit of the type illustrated in Figure 2 but employing a modified form of supporting unit made in solid formation and adapted for heavier types of construction work.

Figure 4 is a view inside elevation of the construction illustrated in Figure 3, the removable unit or section being broken away to illustrate the base piece.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a further modified form of construction in which the construction illustrated in Figure 2 is reinforced through the medium of a solid T-bar.

Figure 6 is a view in elevation a part thereof being shown in section of a unit of the type illustrated in Figure 5 showing how the bottom end of the same can be attached to a floor or other supporting structure where the unit is employed in the building of a partition or wall.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 3 of 'a further, modified form of construction.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure '7 showing a still further modified form of construction.

Referring to the drawing in detail, 5 indicates a frame in which is supported the individual panels 6, divided from each other by the intermediate units 7 which cooperate to maintain the panels 6 in proper position within the frame 5, one of the panels being illustrated as a bank tellers window 6-A.

I am referring to the bank construction as an illustration of the use of my device but it is to be distinctly understood that its employment is anticipated in connection with the building of walls, the erection of partitions, railings and in all other forms of construction to which it is adaptable. The object is to provide a means for securing wall forming panels 6 in position and replacing the same quickly when broken without the necessity of removing nails, or other holding means that are commonly employed.

The connecting strip units 7' that divide the frame or are employed in other capacities to sustain a panel, are made up of a rolled base section 18 of substantially rectangular shape as illustrated in Figure 2 and provided with an upstanding rectangular portion 19, the opposite side walls of which are bulged as at 20. The bottom 21 of the base 18 provides the edge ledges upon which are supported the panes or panels 6. When the panels are in position, the removable channel member 22 is forced down over the upstanding portion 19 of the base 18 with the result that its inwardly extending edge portion constituting the beaded edge lips 23, ride over the bulge portion '20 of the section 19 and engage the panels or panes 6- and retain the same in position against the base member 18. The fact that theedges of the lips 23 engage the sloping sides of the bulges 20, provide for constant pressure of the lips 23 against the pane or panel and the channel is effectively held in place but the parts 22 and 18 are yieldably separable due to the fact that they are made from spring steel or other material of a resilient nature, it being noted that the construction may be employed in the interior or on the exterior of a building, in walls, bank grillework or in any capacity where a pane or panel is to be supported. 7

As a modified form of my construction illustlfl td, in Figure 5 for the heavier type of work,

the member 18 may be arranged to holda solid T-bar 24 which is slidably positioned within the member 18 so that its vertical leg 25 will be positioned within the upstanding portion 19 of the base member. In this construction, the same locking effect of panel is produced but the construction is more rigid and it is to be understood that the unit is used in either a horizontal or a vertical position.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a modified form of my construction in which the same principle is incorporated and in connection with the member 22, I employ a T-bar 26, the vertical leg 27 of which is punched out in opposite directions as at 28 and 29 to provide the protuberance or bulged portions that are effective in maintaining the member 22 in position against the panels or genes 6 that are to be supported or held in posion. r

In Figure 6, I have illustrated a means of securing the T-bar 24 illustrated in Figure'5 in vertical position and in order to carry out my invention in this respect, I have extended the vertical leg 25 of the T-bar and bent the same as at 30 so that a fastening element 31 may be employed to secure the same to a flooring or other supporting member and the channel piece 22 is accordingly cut out as at 32 to allow for the bent portion 30 or the T-bar. These members 18 and 19, as well as the T-bars connected therewith and the other modified forms of construction illustrated in Figures '1 and 8 and to be later described, are suitably mitred together as at 33 in any construction in which they are employed, these mitres being also employed in joining the ends of the construction with a frame or other supporting member and if necessary or desirable, the mitred joints may be soldered together which, in the case of a section would permit complete removal of the cross shaped member 22 as illustrated in Figure 1, to permit replacement of all panels employed at the same time, assuming of course, that the edge bead or edge moulding of the frame is removed with the member or members 22.

In Figures 7 and 8 there is illustrated, a modifled form of the strip 7 in which the removable roll strip sections 48 having the spring lips 49 arranged to engage the bulged walls 50 of the base member 51 to hold in position a panel or pane 6. In Figure 8, the member 48 carrying the spring lips 49 or rather, the spring stripportion, is ar-.

The member or frame'5 may be secured to a floor or other support in any suitable manner. In the construction illustrated in Figure 3, the punched out portions 28 and 29, if desired, may

be further punched out so that their bottom edges form a locking edge so that a positive lock is provided for the member 22 when the same is p d thereover.

It is evident, therefore, that while I have provided for a number of different types of constructions, all of the forms of my invention operate on substantially the same principle, that is, the use of a center member having a bulge therein which cams spring lips of another unit in position against a panel or pane to be supported.

It is also evident that I have provided a construction which may be rolled out of metal of a resilient nature and which can be made up in sections of any length and can be cut to suit the particular work to be done so that a means is provided for maintaining in stock erection units that are employed in the construction of walls, partitions, railings and to any other form of construction to which my invention is adaptable.

My invention is not to be restricted to the precise details of construction shown since various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing the advantages derived from its use.

What I claim is:

1. A construction unit comprising a base strip member, and a channel strip member, the base member having an upstanding portion, the opposite side walls of which are provided with bulges and a laterally .cxtending bottom portion, the extensions of which, beyond said upstanding portion constitute panel supporting ledges, the channel member being arranged to fit over said base member and having lateral lip portions, the edges of which engage the bulges of the base strip member to press said lip portions against panel members disposed on said ledges.

. 2. A construction unit comprising a base strip member of rolled hollow formation having an upstanding and a lateral portion, the edges of the lateral portion bordering the upstanding portion constituting panel supporting ledges, and a hollow channel strip member having flared side portions terminating in inwardly extending lip portions, and bulges in the opposite faces of said upstanding portion engageable by the lip portions to force the lip portions into contact with a panel disposed on said ledges.

3. A construction unit as characterized in claim 2 and having a solid T-bar disposed interiorly of said hollow base strip member and constituting a reinforce means therefor.

OSCAR s'rome.v IL. 5.] 

